Wow! I am so proud of the citizens of Longview who stopped and caught the criminal on Green Street (news story, April 12).

This is what the Longview police are talking about to us. We cannot turn away from the crime that is happening in our city. We must speak up and fight for our city to be safe. Yes, it is scary, but we have to put our trust in God and He will protect us. We cannot say that's not my problem, because you have to put your brother, sister, mother and father in your mind and say what if it was one of them? Remember we cannot do it alone. It takes a village, it takes the citizens of Longview.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; Do not be afraid nor be dismayed, for the Lord God is with you, wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Janis Cox, Longview

Playing as a team

Congratulations Kilgore High School Soccer State Champions (sports story, Saturday). Beautiful proof that a team of skilled athletes that play for each other and not for themselves can do magical things.

Hopefully, the Greater Longview Soccer Association will learn from this and scrap the forced repooling of players so chemistry can develop among our soccer players.

Kevin McQuaid, Longview

Clean up East Mountain

Thanks, News-Journal, for your articles and editorials regarding the wrongdoing in East Mountain. Hopefully, through your continued coverage of what the many good citizens of East Mountain have endured, we can clean up East Mountain and put an end to the apparent cronyism, nepotism, abuse of office, illicit spending, and "good ol' boy backdoor dealing" that seems to have gone on far too long and run our city to the brink of bankruptcy.

Whatever goes on here should be for the good of all citizens living in the city limits of East Mountain, not just a select few. As more wrongdoing is revealed and not allowed to be whitewashed, perhaps individuals will be held accountable by county and state officials.

All of us, myself included, are responsible for allowing officials to betray our trust. We can all request copies of open records, attend city council meetings and report wrongdoing to the Texas Rangers Public Corruption Unit out of Tyler, the Upshur County District Attorney's Office, or our state representatives. We can all help save our city!